Counting device



E. A. FORD COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22.

Oct. 4, 1932.

1927 8 Sheets-Sheet l an ucmi oz ugene A. Ford E. A. FORIJ Oct. 4, 1932.

COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 amventoz EugeneFord 575% IS awn mm Oct. 4, 1932. E A, FORD 1,880,427

COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 192 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 mlllillilm Oct. 4,1932. E. A. FORD 1,380,427

COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 4VIIIIIIl/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIfllIII/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIw ass vwentoz Oct. 4, 1932. FORD 1,880,427

COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 35 (S Elf tome Oct.4, 1932. E, A FORD 1,880,427

' COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1927 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 v 222 I 5- ii? i2 2- E E 5 2 v hp. 2 f i gvwehtoz Eugene A J 33% h/J G-ttOI/VWHX maw E.A. FORD COUNTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22.

Oct. 4, 1932.

1927 8 Sheets-Sheet '7 mmm I I I I i I 5 I I I I I I I I v I v v 1 I v II I I I I I T m w Aw m m m um Em h M0 5 Patented Oct. 4, 1932 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE EUGENE A. FOB-ID, OF SCARSDALE, NEW YORK,-ASSIGNORTO THE TAIBULATING EA- CHINE COMPANY, OF ENDICOTT, NEW YORK,;ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY oonn'rrne DEVICE Application filed December22, 1927. Serial No. 241,791.

This case is a continuation in part of applications Serial No. 163,333filed January 25,

1927 andNo. 234,329 filed November 19, 1927, V

I relating, respectively, to combined card sorting-and counting machinesand to combined card sorting and printing counter machines.

' This invention relatesto the counting and printing counter mechanismsper se, which are of general application,

In general, the ob 'ect of this invention is to' provide an improvedcounting device.

Further, the object of this invention is to provide an improvedreleasably driven counting mechanism.-

Still further, the object of this invention is to provide printingcounter mechanism of improved construction. I I

The objectis also to selectively control "a plurality of banks ofcounters and to prevent 2Q operation of the control means while theelements are in printing relation.

Another object is also to zeroize the counters by reversing the normaldirection of motion of said counters. I

Among other objects, it is aimed to provide novel means for eifecting atransfer operation between counter elements, and to provide means forapprising an attendant of the factthat a-certain counter bank hasexceeded 80 its capacity. I

-Var ious other objects and advantages of my invention will be obviousfrom the follow- 'ing particular description of one form of mechanismembodying the invention or from 5 an inspection of the accompanyingdrawings; and the invention also constitutes certain new and novelfeatures of construction and combination of partshereinafter set forthan claimed.

In the drawings'are illustrated two embodilnents of the invention, onebeing a printing counter device and the other a purely i countingdevice. I i I Fig.1 is a plan view of the printing counter. Fig. 2 is afront elevation thereof. y

Fig. 3 is'a detail section through the paper roll holder of theprintingcounter.

Fig.4 is a side section through the printing counter.

Fig. 5 is a sect-ion on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan section of a portion of the printin counter.

I Fig. counter taken through the handle 126 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8-is a unit counter wheel of aprinting counter bank.

Fig. 9 is a highest denominationalj orde-r I Wheel of a printing counterbank. .Fig. 10 is a planviewof a portion of the counting devicemodification. Fig. 11 is a View of the driving connections for saidmodificatiomtaken on line 1111 of Fig. 10. I I I Fig. 12 is a section online 1212 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a detail of a counter wheel of themodification. I

Figf 14 is a section takenon line 147-14 of Fig. 10. I t

Fig. 15 is a circuit diagram of electrical means adapted to controleither modification.

.The general operation of both embodiments of this invention will beunderstood by reference to the circuit diagram, Fig. 15, which howsdiagrammatically the combination of record card sorting and countingmechanisms. It is understood, however, that these counting mechanismsare not limited in application to combination with sorting or any otheraccounting machine but may be used generally as a counting device inrelation to'any desired mechanisms. Since the combination forms no partof the present in- Thepbject of a card sorting/ mechanism, in

general, is to sortishe record cards into groups in accordance with thedesignations usually determined by perforations located in diiferentpositions of a selected column or columns of the cards.

In the operation'of the sorting machine, the

brush 41 previously adjusted to read the.de sired card column. Whenbrush 41 encounters a perforation in said card column, it conis avertical section of the printing record cards (not shown) are fed one ata V time between contact roll .0 and analyzing tacts roll therethroughand establishes 'a.

- in each sorting pocket or it may be desired to count the number ofdifferent designations in a column of the cards other than that selectedfor sorting control The following counting means forming the subject ofthe present invention may be used for either of said purposes. Should itbe desired to count .the number of cards in each sorting pocket,

connection 42 is hooked up by wire 45 to plug board connection 46. Hencewhen a perfora-f tion is sensed by the brush 41, it establishes a secondcircuit simultaneously with the sorting circuit, which energizes one ofa series of counter magnets 107 selected in accordance with the positionof the perforation sensed by thesbrush 41. The energization of saidcounter magnet operates the counter bank associated therewith to addoneto-the total standing thereon. In this manner, every time a card issorted into a pocket, it is counted by a counter bankcorresponding tosaid pocket. :Should it, be desired to count the totals of the variousdesignations in a column of the cards, 'irrespective of the sortingoperation, connection' ifl may be omitted and brush 41 will thereuponcontrol onlysthc counting magnets or a second brush 47 may be used andconnection 45 omitted. In either case, upon the sensing of a perforationin the 'lyzing brush.

card by an analyz-ingbrush, one circuit 'is established through contacts48, line 49, magnet 50, and brushes 51 contacting acircuit breaker roll52.- Energization of magnet attracts its armature 53 to permit contac'ts48 to open, which occurs before the analyzing brush leaves theperforation in thecard, thereby avoiding sparking of the ana- Contacts48 are closed again immediately-preceding the succeeding card cycle byanyv convenient means such as a cam, to permit the armature to againlatch the contacts till a new perforation is sensed.

Simultaneously with energization of magnet 50, a second circuit-iscompleted through line -5 through the counter magnet 107 corre--sponding to the position of the perforation ou the card, the countercommutator segment 55 connected to-s aid magnet, through rotat wheelplate 98 to prevent the latter from moving brush 56 contacting saidsegment, to a common contact. ring 57 to the brushes 51.

The brush 56;rotates in synchronism with the feed of the cards past theanalyzing bruslrso that'when a perforation reaches an analyzing brush.the commutator segment 55 corre-' sponding thereto will be in engagementwith the segment wiping brush 56, thereby permit- :ting the circuit topass only through the magthe counter circuit.

net 107 connected to said segment. Each magnet thus corresponds to adiliereiitindex;

1 responding perforation has passed the analyzing brush.

The circuit breaker roll 52 is' adapted to break the counter circuitduring the intervals between successive cardstand the total countermagnet 107' is energized once every card cycle when a brush 58 hits abare spot59'on roll 52. The reject counter magnet is operated when therear edge of the card just leaves the analyzing brush, permitting the maing brush 'to wipe thebare contact'roll, pro- Vided'none of the othermagnets have been energized in the preceding card cycle so as to resultin opening contacts 48 which opens It is understood that while thevarious counter magnets 107 are disclosed in this instance asselectively operated 1 by control means sensing perforated-cards,

that they may be-operated by any other control means to count anythingdesired such as the number of different operations of a series a ofmachinesin a shop, each operation controlling a different set ofcontacts leading selectively to the counting magnets.

The specific manner in which the printing counter embodiment of thisinvention'operw ates will be understood by reference to Figs. 1 to 9. 1Amotor (Figs. 1 and 2) is provided to rotate counting printer shaft 86through worm gears 87. The shaft has a key-way 88 in which are seatedkeys 89 of friction disks 90. Each printing bank 91 mount-' ed on "theshaft has a set of fourwheels 92 except the total printing bank whichhas five, although it is obvious that the number of wheels in abank maybe varied as desired.

A friction diskis provided on each side of a wheel, compression springs93, locatedbetween adjacent banks; engaging the outer disks and urgingthem into frictional engagement .with the sides of the wheels. As thefriction disks rotate with the printing counter shaft, they tend torotate the wheels but are prevented from so doing by pawls 94, the

nose 95 of a pawl engaging the long side 96 of one of the notches 97 inan escapement ing in thedirection of the arrow *(Fig. 8). The plate 98is rigidly attached to the print ing wheel which is provided with tentype lugs bearing characters 0 to 9 disposed in printing wheel whichextends as an annular 37 flange 99 from the side of the wheel. On theinside of the flange areequally spaced apart substantiallyradial of theflange.

latter is in its lower position.

escapement lugs 100, of which one side 101 is I There is a lug 100corresponding to each. notch 97, which in turn corresponds to a printinglug on the wheel. The nose 95 projects from the side of the pawl and issufficiently narrow to pass between the top of the lug 100 and theperiphery of the escapement plate. The pawl 94 is providedabove the pawlnose with a lug 10.3 coextensive with the sides of the pawl. Theescapement plates98 of all but the highest order wheels are formed witha lug 104 extending from the side adjacent the pawl of the next higherorder wheel. By means of the cam lugs 104 and 103, a transfer operationis effected when a lower order'wheel moves in the direction of the arrow(Fig. 8) to present its 0 type at the index or printing position. Duringthis movement, cam surface 105 on the lug 104 of a wheel engages thehead of lug 103 of the pawl of the next higher order 'wheellanddepresses the pawl against the bias of spring 106 causing the pawl noseto disengage notch side 96 to permit the wheel to be moved by therotating friction disks in the direction of the arrow. The engagement oflugs 104 and 103 is limited to such time as will permit the wheel tomove only one step or the distance from notch to notch. Should the pawlnot rise soon enough to engage the next notch side 96, due to thelagging action of spring 106, the wheel is prevented from,.moving morethan one step by the engagement of the radial side 101 of the nextflange lug 100 with-the awl nose while the pawl rises under theinfluence of the spring 106, it disengages said'lug 100, permitting thewheel to move till the adjacent not-ch side 96 strikes the pawl nose,thus completing the transfer operation.

The action of the holding pawl in permitting the unit wheel of a bank tomove one a perforation in the card, a circuit is established in themanner above described which energizes the magnet 107 of the printingbank corresponding to the designation of the perforation. For example,if a perforation counter wheels.

As soon as the pawl nose contacts in its lowered position the next lug100, from which it is released to engagethe adjacent notch side 96. Ifthe magnet and spring act promptly, the nose moves upwardly before thenext lug reaches it and passes over the lug to engage the adjacent notch97.

In Fig. 9 is shown the highest order printing wheel of a bank, theescapement plate thereof differing from the others in being providedwith a lug 104 on the side thereof adjacent its holding pawl. The lug104 is adapted to contact the right sideof the pawl nose 95 of the pawlwhen the wheel is turned clockwise stopping the wheel with the space 89between type Sand 0 in the index or printing position. This is designedto prevent the highest order wheels going from 9 type to 0 type since notransfer is to be efiected by these wheels. If a highest order wheelstop 35 adapted to restrain this reverse motion of the 95 However,during this movement, thehighest order wheel of a bank is stopped withits 0 type in index positon by engagement of the lug 104 thereof withthe left side of the pawl nose of'its own holding 100 pawl and each ofthe remaining wheels of a bank is stopped with its 0 type in indexposition by a flat surface 109 on its lug 104 engaging the forwardedgeof the pawl nose of the pawl of the vnext higher order wheel. 5

Engagement of the surface 109 of a lower order wheel with the adjacentpawl or of the lug 104 of a highest order wheel with its own pawl stopsthe rotation of these wheels other wheels unil each of them is stoppedin 0 position. I i

The following means are provided to effect printing of the figuresstanding on the wheels. Referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 6, the housing 110is open in the front, the. type lugs from which the impression is to betaken projecting past said opening in index position. A-ribbon 111extends the length of the opening in the housing directly in front ofthe type lugs in index position. The left end of the ribbon is attachedto a clip 112 on the end of an arm 113 pivoted to the side of thehousing. A spring 114 acts on the arm urging the free end thereof awayfrom the housing. the ribbon is attached to the end of another arm 115pivoted to the housing. The arm is provided with an opening throughwhich a screw 116 passes, the end of the screw con.-

tacting the side of the housing under the in- 13;

but the counter shaft continues to rotate the The other end of 123fluence of the spring 114 acting on the other end of the ribbon. Thescrew may be used to adjust the tautness of the ribbon as well astoshift it relatively to the types. Spring strips 117' (Fig. 4) forguiding the ribbon and holding it slightly away from theprinting wheelsare fastened to the base of the housing intermediate the counter banks.A flat platen band 118 is fastened at each end to a pin 119 (Fig. 6)carried by the frame plates 120 which are rotatably mounted on a shaft122 journalled in standards 123 fixed to the base of the printingcounter attachment. A beam 124 fastened to plates 120, (Figs. 4, 6

and 7) extends the width of the attachment in a direction parallel tothe platen and ribhbn strips. slidably mounted on the beam 124 is acarriage 125 provided with a handle 126 for moving it and a freelyrotatable steel roller 127 opposite the handle pressing against theplaten strip.

During the counting operation, the frame plates 120 are in the positionshown in Fig.

4. After the counting operation is completed;

in order to effect printing, the frame plates 120 are moved to theposition shown in Fig. 7 with the plane of the platen band parallel tothe plane of the ribbon. By means of handle 126, the carriage 125 isthen moved from one'end of the guide bar 124 to the other. For example,if the carriage 125 is at the right as shown in Fig. 2 then it is movedto the left. The operation may be repeated, if desired. In each extremeposition of the carriage a spring pressed ball 128 in the handle engagesa notch 129 (Figs. 2, 4, and

I 7) to hold the carriage yieldably in position.

During. the motion of carriage 125 on the beam 124, the roller 127-presses the platen strip against the printing lugs on the wheels so thatas the roller moves past a printing lug,

it causes the lug to print on a paper positioned betweenthe platen andthe ribbon. )Vhen the carriage 125 has moved from one side of themachine to the. other, it has caused all the type lugs in index-positionto print on the a paper the totals standing on the counter '3, by ahandle 133 so that arcuate portion wheels. 4

The paper is supplied in the form of a roll which is placed in acircular holder (see- Figs. 2 and 3) comprising a lower member 130having reduced portions at each. end fixed to the side plates 120 of themovable frame and an upper member 131 hinged to the lower member. Afterthe roll is placed in the holder, the latter is kept closed by means ofa clamp having an arcua-te portion 132 and a circular portion 132rotatably mounted on the right hand reduced portion of member 130 (seeFig. 2). )Vhen the holder is open, the arcuate portion 132 of the clampembraces only member 130 but 'when. the holder is to be kept closed, theclamp is rotatedcounterclockwise as viewed in Fig.

132 embraces part of member 130 and the contiguous part of member 131,the hinge between said members terminating short of the clamp to permitsuch movement.

freely rotatable on shaft 122. The paper may be severed against the edgeof the plate 137. The shaft 141 of rolls 138 is journalled "in arms 142rockably mounted on the shaft 122. Extensions 143 of the arm havesprings 144 fastened thereto, the other end of the springs beingattached to rod 136. The springs urge the roll 138 into contact with thepaper. The end of the shaft 141 is provided with a knob 145 (Fig. 2)which is used torotate the shaft and the rolls 138 thereon in order tofeed the paper past plate 137.

When not in printing position (Fig. 7)

the printing frame is usually in the position shown in Fig. 4. In orderto move the frame 120 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that in Fig.7, the operator grasps the handles'146 at each side' of the frame andswings the frame clockwise on shaft 122. The parts are retained in the.printing position shown in Fig. 7 by means of a spring pressed latchingpawl slidably retained in each of the side plates 120 by a pin 151 fixedin the plate acting within a notch 152 of the pawl to limit framecounterclockwise, the latch pawl 150- being forced out of the spacebetween cam 153 and screw 154 and moving along cam 153. The latter has astop 155-which is adapted to be engaged by the latch150 to hold theframe in position where the plate 135 1112.

be used as a table for writing on the sheet The stop 155 also preventsthe abrupt dropping of the frame into thep'osition shown in Fig. 4 underthe force of its weight should the operator suddenly release handles146.

,The operator by exerting afslight additional pressure on the frameforces latch 150 off the stop 155, the frame then taking the positionshown in Fig. 4. f

Referring again to Fig.-. 15, the printing counter circuit includescontacts in circuitwith magnets 107-9 to R and contacts 161 in serieswith the total counter magnet 107. The purpose of these contacts is toprevent energization of the counter magnets and resulting actuation ofthe printing wheels when the platen frame is in the printing positionshown in Fig. 7. 'While counting is being effected, contacts 160 and 161remain closed and the platen frame is in the position shown in Fig. 4.These contacts are seen to be carried by pairs of spring blades 162(Fig. 5) on a frame fixed to the under side of the base plate of housing110. 'One of the blades of each pair is longer than the other. The longblade of contacts 161 has a right angular extension 163 which is incontact with an insulated block 164 attached to the long blade ofcontacts 160. The block is normally engaged on the side opposite thatengaged by extension 163 by the end of an arm 165 of a bell crank 166pivoted at 167 to the side of the housing 110 (see Figs. 1 and 4). When.it is desiredto print from the wheels, the platen frame is moved fromthe position shown in Fig. 4'to that shown in Fig. 7. During thismovement, the forward edge of plate 137 engages the outer end of bellcrank 166, which is in the path of the plate and rocks the bell crankon' its pivot causing the arm 165 thereof to move the long blades ofcontacts 160 and 161 away from the short blades, thus opening contacts160 and 161. Energizm tion of'the magnets 107 or 107 is thus madeimpossible while the platen frame is inprinting position.

It is obvious that in the case of the counter modification to behereinafter described contacts 160 and 161 are not needed since noprinting isefiected in said modification.

Fig. 15 also shows the circuit for driving the printing counter motorand the scheme for reversing the rotation of the motor to efiectzeroizing of the counter wheels in the manner described. When thecounter wheels are being rotated in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 8,the motor operating circuit is through the switch 170, the contact block171,

spring blade 172, contact posts 173, motor field 174, contact posts 175,spring blade 176 and contact block 177. To reverse the motor,

the operator grasps the free end of a lever 17 8 (Figs. 1 and 2) pivotedto the base of the printer attachment and swings the lever to the rightmoving a link 179 on the other end of the leverto the left, against theforce of a spring 180 The link 179 moves spring blades 172 and 17 6connected by insulated pins to the left out of contact with contactstuds 173 and into contact with studs 175 which reverses the directionof the current in the field of the motor, thereby reversing thedirection of rotation of the motor shaft and the counter wheels. Whenthe operator releases the handle of lever 178, spring 180 returns theblades 172 and 176 to the right to the normal position shown in Fig. 2.In order to prevent accidental reversal of the motor when the printingis being effected, a rod 181 (Figs. 1 and 2) pivoted to the forward endof lever 178 is guided for movement in a hole 182 in standard 123 (seeFig. 2). When the parts are in the printing position (Fig. 7),

the movement of link 181 to the right is limited by contact with theside of the adjacent frame plate 120. The lever 17 8 as a result cannotbe moved to the right to shift the motor reversing contacts. WVhen theparts are in non-printing position (Fig. 4) the movement of the link 181through hole 182 is unrestrained by the member 120, thus permittingzeroizing to be effected.

It is obvious that the reversing means for the counter motor is notlimited to the par ticular construction shown, as any equivalent motorreversing means may be employed. The reversing means disclosed herein is"equally well adapted to reverse the rotation ing or other machinedesigned to control the counter. As in the printing modification, thecounting wheels 211 are freely mounted on a continually revolving shaft212 and are grouped in banks of four except for the total counter whichhas five wheels. Between adjacent wheels 211 are placed friction disks213 each of which has a pin'214 extending into the groove 215 of theshaft. Between adjacent banks is mounted a washer 216 against whichspider springs 217 and 218 press, forcing the friction disks into tightengagement with the counter wheels. The counter wheel consists of aflanged disk 219 to which is attached an escapement wheel 220. Coactingwith each escapement Wheel is a pawl indicated at 221 for the unitswheel and at 222 for the remaining wheels. The

pawls are mounted on a rod 223 and spaced by sleeves 224. The units pawldiffers in form from the remaining pawls as may be seen by comparingFigs. 12." and 14. The units pawl is actuated by the counter magnet 225similar to the magnet 1 07 indicated in the circuit diagram (Fig. 15).When armature 226 is attracted, it rocks-pawl 221, withdrawing the upperdetent 227 from the wheel which permits the friction discs to rotate thewheel and positioning the lower detent 228 for engaging the next toothof the wheel. When the armature is released, the pawl returns to itsoriginal position, the upper detent thereof engaging the neXt notch, thewheel thus having moved one step. The

wheels in this particular instance have two a '3 the inclined surface230 of the pawl of the next higher order wheel, rocking the nose '231 ofthe pawl out of engagement with the tooth it is engaging and permittingthe wheel to be frictionally rotated till the next tooth engages thepawl nose.

The-counting modification is driven by a motor (not shown) the motorshaft 232 being provided with a' spiral gear 233 which drives, a shaft234;.through a spiral gear 235. The upper end of shaft 234 has a wormdriving the counter shaft 212. The shaft 234 is journalled' in a bracket236 pivoted at 237 and biased towards the counter shaft by a spring 238,adjustment being provided by av set screw 239.

In order to zeroize the wheels, the rotation of the counter shaft isreversed as in the printing. counter by reversing the direction ofrotation of the motor shaft by means similar to that employed in theprinting counter. The reverse rotation of the counter wheels I willcontinue until one of the faces of lugs 229. of the lower order wheelsengages the under side of the pawl of the adjacent higher brderwheelwhich stops the lower order wheel in zero position. The highestorder wheel of each counter bank is provided with a pawl to its leftwhich coacts with the lug 229 on said wheel to stop the wheel in zeroposition, this being the only function of said pawl.

pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as appliedto a single modification it will be understood that various omissionsand substitutions and changes in the formand details ofthe deviceillustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. I intend tobeliinited therefore only as indicated by the scope of the followingclaims:

elements, and an escapement element opposite said escape wheel coactingwith the same detent for limiting the movement of said counter elementto said predetermined amount.

2. In a counting device including a shaft and counter elementsassociated therewith, an escapement mechanism comprising an escape wheelmounted on the counter element and a detent coacting therewith, meansfor :nor-

mally holding said elements against rotation, an electromagnetic meansfor releasing said escapement detent to permit a predetermined movementonly of said elements to effect a counting operation, and an escapementelement fixed to the counter element and surrounding the escape'wheelcoacting with said detent for limiting the movement of the counterelement to said predetermined amount.

3. In an accumulator device including a shaft, a counter element, afriction disk associated with said counter element and mounted on saidshaft to rotate therewith and means for resiliently forcing said diskand counter element together to furnish a friction drive for, thelatter, an escapement mechanism including anescape wheel associated withthe counter element, adetent coacting therewith, anelectromagnet forreleasing the detent to permit predetermined movement of the position.While I have shown and described and' 5. A counting device including aprinting counter element, electrically operated devices including anactuating circuit for. releasably driving said element, means foreffecting printing by said element,and means operated by the. printingmeans for automatically breaking said circuit preventing undesir ablemovement of said element while printing is" being effected. v

6. A counting device including printing 'counter elements, means formoving said elements step-by-step to effect counting, and

.mechanism for effecting printing by said elements, said mechanism,normally occup ing an idle position while counting is being e ected,means for releasably retaining said mechanism in printing position whenmoved thereto from its idle position, said mechanism being movable afterit has been'nioved ,to printing .7. A counting and printing deviceincluding a pluralitybf rotatable printing counter banks, said banksbeing operated step by step for effecting countingoperationsand mountedso as to be incapable-of movement from the'position to which they ares'ooperatetl until again operated, means movable toward;

,said bank for printingfrom said banks, and

means for preventing said banks from be'ing 'operated step by step whileprinting.

8. A counting device including counter elements, each element having atoothed wheel,

position to effect printing from said elements.

a pawl having a pawl nose cooperating with the teeth on each wheel torestrain movement thereof, means for actuating said pawl to release thepawl nose from its coacting wheel and permit movement thereof, and meansother than said teeth coacting with the same pawl nose for limiting themovement of the released counter element.

9. A counter including counter elements,

escapement mechanism fixed to each counter element and including opposedescape wheels,

a detent coacting with each wheel, one of said wheels coacting with saiddetent to normally prevent rotation of the associated counter elementwith the shaft,-and the other of said wheels coact-ing with said detentto limit rotation of said counter wheel to a fixed, invariable,predetermined amount.

10. A counting and printing device including a plurality of printerwheels comprising an item counter, said wheels being operated step bystep for effecting counting operations, means for retaining said wheelsin theposition to which they are operated, means movable towards saidwheels for taking a printed impression of the item numbers standingthereon, and means for autolnatically preventing step by step movementof said Wheels while the printing impression is being taken therefrom.

11. A counting device including printing counter elements, means formoving said elements step by step'to effect item counting, mechanism foreffecting printing by said elements, said mechanism comprising a framenormally occupying an idle position while counting is being effected, aplaten band carried by said frame, means for moving said frame intoprinting position with said band opposite the counter elements, meansfor holding said frame in printing position, and a movable printingroller adapted to impress the band against said counter elements toeffect a printing impression.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my sig nature.

EUGENE A. FORD.

